This blog contains a series of movie segments to be used to brainstorm, warm up, follow up, and activate schemata, preparing the students for the topic that will be discussed in class. Here you will find the segments, the lesson plans, and varied topics to foster conversation. You may use the activities for a full two-hour class or they can be used separately to brainstorm or wrap up the topic, focusing on conversation, vocabulary and listening comprehension.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Food, Inc. & Falling Down: Fast Food

Food, Inc. is a very critical documentary about Americans' eating habits. Falling Down has this great scene, which takes place in a fast food restaurant. I used both to talk about fast and junk food. Topics we always address in the language classroom.

I. Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. What kinds of food are popular where you live?

2. How often do you eat fast food?

3. How do you like fast food restaurant? Which one is your favorite and why?

4. What do you like and dislike about fast food restaurants?

5. What meal do you prefer to have fast food? Why?

6. Are there any rules in your house when you eat? Which ones?

7. Can you eat anything? Explain it.

8. What is your favourite breakfast, lunch and dinner?

9. Do you think “you are what you eat”? Explain it.

10. What do you think about canned, frozen and processed food?

11. Do you like fast food and slow food? Why?

12. What national dishes from your country would you recommend to the world?

1. ( ) In today's fast-paced life, there is nothing more practical than getting a ready meal.

2. ( ) Besides the time an individual has to spend in the kitchen, cooking a meal also requires one to make a trip to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for the dish.

3. ( ) There is the added effort and time consumed in washing and peeling the vegetables when you cook your own meal.

4. ( ) If someone lives alone, it is cheaper to buy a meal at the supermarket or a snack bar instead of cooking it at home. Certain fast foods like fries and burgers are inexpensive.

5. ( ) You can find some options on the menu of a fast food. Salads, bread products that are made from wheat bread, lean meat, boiled preparation instead of fried, fruit juices, low-fat milk, or diet soda are smart choices.

6. ( ) It is a fact that fast food is more unhealthy than home-cooked meals, as they contain higher amounts of salt, fats and calories.

7. ( ) Fast food is an important contributor to obesity in the population.

8. ( ) Given the sedentary lifestyle that we lead today, the excess fats and calories that we take in with fast food is not used up completely, accumulating in our body as fat deposits that cause complications like cardiovascular diseases and other related diseases of the heart.

9. ( ) The greater the number of people at a meal in a fast food restaurant, the larger is the bill. Eating at fast food outlets is economical only for a single person.

10. ( ) Fast food joints are also being seen as a factor that is making a number of families spend less and less time together.

11. ( ) Fast food restaurants are attractive to many children, with large playgrounds and birthday lounges.

12. ( ) You can find fast food restaurants practically anywhere around the city.
III. Watch the movie segment below from the movie Food, Inc. and discuss the questions that follow:

1. Describe the scene.

2. What do they talk about fast food?

3. Do you think it is true what they say about fast food?

4. Have you ever considered the issues mentioned in the segment when you eat in a fast food restaurant? Will you change your eating habits because of this?

5. What should be done about eating fast food in restaurants like the one mentioned in the segment?

6. Do you think fast food is actually a problem? Why (not)? What should be done about it? IV. Watch the scene from the movie Falling Down and discuss the questions.

Claudio,Your blog is a Jewel of a site! I don't know how I landed on it, but I am so amazed by the work you have put together, this could also be a great site for English teacher in the US, who teach native English speakers! I will pass this address along to my co workers!!! It makes so much sense......Sabine from Weston US

Hi Claudio! Your website is amazing! I love it! I'm also a Portuguese teacher and I am wondering if you have a similar site for Portuguese. It's very difficult to find these kind of resources. Thanks in advance!

MY OTHER BLOG

Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals

About Me

I'm a teacher at Casa Thomas Jefferson, Brasilia, Brazil. I'm a Branch Coordinator and Teacher Trainer as well. I really like movies and seeing them with "different" eyes, trying to see how I can use them in my classroom. Recently, I have dedicated my ideas to grammar activities with movie segments because, apparently, teachers use movies for many purposes, but grammar. Working with movie segments fosters students' production and interest. I truly believe that grammar exercises should be attractive. I have just developed a new blog for movie segments to enhance topic based classes, focusing on conversation, listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. If you have suggestions for the blogs and the activities, just say it!

Casa Thomas Jefferson

O Inglês Como Deve Ser

Welcome

The main purpose of this blog is to share activities to enhance the teacher's lesson plan. They will not replace the course book, but they will make the lessons more attractive and richer. Share your warm-up activity with movie segments too. You may email it to me at claudioazevedo@thomas.org.br and the activity will be credited to you with a link to your own site if it's the case. Give me suggestions for topics and segments too, please. Isn't sharing just fantastic?